1. 80 m to km 0.

08 km
2. 100 yd to m 91.44 m
3. 1536 g to kg 1.536 kg
4. 42 in to m 1.0665 m
5. 57 mL to L 0.001 L
 Which is
Which is
CORRECT? SIGNIFICANT?

A) 4.60g B)4.6g C)4.0g

D)5.0g E) 4.600g
 Significant figures

The total number of digits

(reliable digits + last uncertain digit)
which are directly obtained
from a particular measurement
are called significant figures.
 Significant figures

Mass = 6.11 g Speed = 67 km/h

3 significant figures 2 significant figures
 Significant figures

Time = 12.76 s Length = 1.8 cm

4 significant figures 2 significant figures
Rules for counting significant figures

1
All non-zero digits are significant.
Number Significant figures
16 2
35.6 3
6438 4
 Rules for counting significant figures

2
Zeros between non-zero digits are significant.

Number Significant figures

205 3
3008 4
60.005 5
 Rules for counting significant figures

3
Terminal zeros in a number without decimal are
not significant unless specified by a least count.
Number Significant figures
400 1
3050 3
(20 ± 1) 2
s
 Rules for counting significant figures

4
Terminal zeros that are also to the right of a
decimal point in a number are significant.
Number Significant figures
64.00 4
3.60 3
25.060 5
 Rules for counting significant figures
5
If the number is less than 1, all zeroes before the
first non-zero digit are not significant.

Number Significant figures

0.0064 2
0.0850 3
0.0002050 4
 Rules for counting significant figures

6
During conversion of units use powers of 10 to
avoid confusion.
Number Significant figures
2.700 4
m 4
2 4
2.700 x 10
cm
 Exact numbers
• Exact numbers are either defined numbers or
the result of a count.
• They have infinite of significant figures
number because they are
reliable.
By counting
By definition 45 students
1 dozen = 12 objects 5 apples
1 hour = 60 minute 6 faces of cube
1 inch = 2.54 cm
 Rules for rounding off a measurement

1
If the digit to be dropped is less than 5, then the
preceding digit is left unchanged.
Number Round off up to 3 digits
64.62 64.6
3.651 3.65
546.3 546
 Rules for rounding off a measurement

2
If the digit to be dropped is more than 5, then the
preceding digit is raised by one.
Number Round off up to 3 digits
3.479 3.48
93.46 93.5
683.7 684
 Rules for rounding off a measurement

3
If the digit to be dropped is 5 followed by digits other
than zero, then the preceding digit is raised by one.

Number Round off up to 3 digits

62.354 62.4
9.6552 9.66
589.51 590
 Rules for rounding off a measurement
4
If the digit to be dropped is 5 followed by zero or
nothing, the last remaining digit is increased by 1 if it is
odd, but left as it is if even.
Number Round off up to 3 digits
53.350 53.4
9.455 9.46
782.5 782
 Significant figures in calculations

Addition & subtraction

The final result would round to the same decimal
place as the least precise number.
Example:
• 13.2 + 34.654 + 59.53 = 107.384 = 107.4

• 19 – 1.567 - 14.6 = 2.833 = 3

 Significant figures in calculations

Multiplication & division

The final result would round to the same number
of significant digits as the least accurate number.
Example:
• 1.5 x 3.67 x 2.986 = 16.4379 = 16

• 6.579/4.56 = 1.508 = 1.51